Del Papa garners Miller’s support

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 | 10:03 a.m.

and Larry Henry

Ending months of neutrality, Gov. Bob Miller will back Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa over Kenny Guinn in the 1998 governor's race.

Guinn, a Las Vegas businessman who headed Republicans for Miller in Southern Nevada, had been expecting Miller to remain neutral.

"He has a high regard for Kenny Guinn, but he's supporting Frankie Sue Del Papa," Miller spokesman Richard Urey said Monday.

Guinn, who chaired Miller's special committee to streamline state government, said he was disappointed.

"I'm surprised that he's made up his mind without at least giving me the courtesy of talking to me," Guinn said. "I think longtime friends should sit down and have this discussion."

Del Papa, who like Miller is a Democrat, has served alongside the governor the past seven years.

"I'm very appreciative, and I welcome his support," she said. "We've enjoyed a good working and personal relationship."

Guinn, who has campaigned for 17 months, planned to meet with Miller to persuade him to stay out of the race.

"We're going to be just as strong moving ahead without him," Guinn said. "But when it's all said and done, it probably isn't going to diminish our friendship."

Guinn, a former chairman of PriMerit Bank and Southwest Gas Corp., has spent much of the summer campaigning in Northern Nevada from a rented apartment in Reno.

His top political adviser, Sig Rogich, a veteran of many local and national campaigns, said Miller's decision probably is based on party lines.

"Saying you're going to support someone and working day and night to help that individual are altogether different things," he said.

Dan Burdish, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, conceded that Miller's endorsement could help Del Papa raise money.

"It might help her financially because he's got high approval ratings," Burdish said. "But even if he does endorse her, he's not going to work that hard."

Burdish said Guinn is receiving help from top Democratic fund-raisers.

Gaming attorney Frank Schreck and Las Vegas physician Elias Ghanem, both longtime Miller supporters, are among those raising money for Guinn.

Guinn has amassed more than $1 million, while Del Papa said she has $250,000 in commitments.

Burdish also said Guinn could benefit from a feud between Del Papa and the Culinary Union, the state's largest union.

Del Papa said it's premature to speculate about fund-raising and other aspects of the race.

"We've got 449 days," she said. "The public is not going to focus on this. These campaigns should be run in the year of the election."

Del Papa said Guinn, who announced his candidacy in February 1996, started his campaign too early.

"The horse that runs too fast in the beginning doesn't have much left for the stretch," she said.

Del Papa, meanwhile, is holding her first fund-raiser in the state Aug. 26 at the Polo Towers in Las Vegas.

Miller, who's vacationing in Florida, is listed as one of several top-ranking Democratic hosts on an invitation to the event.

Others are U.S. Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan, state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus of Las Vegas, Assembly Speaker Joe Dini of Yerington, Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins of Henderson and Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

Del Papa has not announced her candidacy, but she has asked Jones, who ran against Miller in 1994, to head an exploratory committee.

Urey said Miller's willingness to co-host the fund-raiser confirms the governor's support for Del Papa.

Polls show Del Papa, who has won several statewide races, leading Guinn by double digits. Guinn has never run for elected office and lacks her name recognition.

Hollywood producer Aaron Russo had announced his candidacy in the Republican race for governor.